"Complete bunk" is Peter Schiff's view of the notion that Japan's rebuilding might actually boost its economy. “Resources used to rebuild are not available for other purposes"; instead of adding new infrastructure or producing more goods, those resources now merely replace what they lost. Still, the near-breakeven rally of the top Japan ETF (EWJ-0.2%) may show that the idea has believers. [View news story]

Yes go burn your own house down, it will create jobs. Hmmm, where is the flaw in that analysis...

The Sunday Times of London reports the expected aid package for Ireland will reach €120B ($164B), more than double previous estimates and larger than Greece's bailout. The package, which could be unveiled as soon as tomorrow, will require the country to raise taxes and nationalize more banks. [View news story]

Yes, a dollar that will become worthless if the country cannot back up it's debts with a competitive economy.

The Sunday Times of London reports the expected aid package for Ireland will reach €120B ($164B), more than double previous estimates and larger than Greece's bailout. The package, which could be unveiled as soon as tomorrow, will require the country to raise taxes and nationalize more banks. [View news story]

And if there were no FDIC, I'm sure I could buy private insurance against a bank failure, and it would probably actually be solvent, I'm just sayin...

The Sunday Times of London reports the expected aid package for Ireland will reach €120B ($164B), more than double previous estimates and larger than Greece's bailout. The package, which could be unveiled as soon as tomorrow, will require the country to raise taxes and nationalize more banks. [View news story]

I am sick of straw man arguments like yours. People complaining about the size of government don't want to abolish the whole thing, they want it to perform the basic governance needed for civilized society (Protect life, liberty, property). They also want their busy body feel good federal politicians to stop tinkering with crap that ends up back firing 99% of the time. Do the things that are enumerated in the constitution and stay the HELL out of everything else. Is that beyond your comprehension, or do you still want to pretend that everyone that doesn't agree with you wants to live in an anarchist Mad Max society? I'm sure it's easier for you to think of everyone else as an idiot, but is that reality?

The Sunday Times of London reports the expected aid package for Ireland will reach €120B ($164B), more than double previous estimates and larger than Greece's bailout. The package, which could be unveiled as soon as tomorrow, will require the country to raise taxes and nationalize more banks. [View news story]

Speculation about an Irish bailout has taken some of the focus away from Greece, for now, but Greek officials are bracing for 'substantial pressure' from the EU and IMF this week to adopt additional austerity measures. Officials say the 2009 budget gap is expected to be 9.3-9.5% of GDP, vs. media reports of 9.2-9.3% and a target of 8.1%. [View news story]

These are the problems one must face when you continually overpromise and borrow from the future. The future catches up and you must pay. It's like buying stuff on your credit card. You have to pay it back some day (with interest).

I've been wondering the same thing. Perhaps China signaled in private that it would not buy more US debt. Helicopter Ben preempted them by showing them he is crazy enough to monitize our own debt. Nothing else seems to make sense, unless Bernanke is a complete obsessed lunatic. Obsessed with using his one lever to control the world economy. It is impossible, but if you stare at something long enough your brain will make some sort of sense out of it (right or wrong).

A peek at the 12.5% year-on-year rise in federal receipts offers a clear glimpse of economic recovery. With federal spending flat since June 2009, the narrowing gap between spending and receipts has reduced the deficit from a peak of $1.48T (10.3% of GDP) to $1.26T (8.5% of GDP). [View news story]

Wow that's awesome, lets throw a party with the .22T savings. Man we are out of the woods now, just think, only $1.26T deficit this year. Maybe we can roll it over to one of those no interest for 6 months credit cards and really party with the savings. PUH-LEASE.

Except for the fact that it is priced in dollars which are becoming worth less as every dollar rolls off the press. So the market really hasn't gone anywhere. Price the S&P in Gold or Euros and you will see the true value 'increase'.